Page 108 of The Demon's Pet

“Finally,” he said. “Cleo, would you do me the pleasure of joining me for lunch?”

“Yes,” I said at the same time Os tried to say no.

Os glared at me as if I were trying to make his life more difficult.

I wasn’t. I just liked this prince and wanted to spend more time with him. And after a confusing night with Sam, I deserved to make my own decisions.

Zadis grabbed my hand in his and pulled me away from Os before Os could say more.

“If you tell me I’m not allowed to spend time with a guest, please know I’ll be terribly insulted,” Zadis said to Os as we left.

Os merely watched us with a slitted purple gaze.

24

“What were you two discussing?” Zadis asked, pulling me along with him until we reached a large circular building with an ornate door.

He opened it and pulled me inside. Then he settled on a comfy, large cushion on the ground that served as a chair and gestured for me to do the same on a cushion next to his. “Welcome to my home.”

It was beautifully furnished with paintings of nature and gemstones on the walls and ornate furniture that was a mixture of human and something a little more eccentric.

Zadis gave me a smile, and his green eyes lit like green flames. “Finally, I get you to myself.”

I flushed lightly. “Ah, yes.”

“It’s very hard to find a human around here,” he said, putting his hands behind his head as he leaned back. His black robes hid his body, but his arms, where they peeked out, were toned and firm. His jaw was hard, his nose straight. He was handsome… He just wasn’t Sam.

“Well, that’s a pretty blush,” Zadis said. “I hope it’s for me.”

I didn’t have the heart to say it wasn’t.

“I did hear humans and human shifters were rare,” I said. “I never knew that.”

“Interesting,” Zadis said. “What did you think the world was like outside the veil?”

I thought about it for a moment. “I don’t know. I guess I pictured chaos and danger… but also adventure and magic.”

“Magic, indeed,” Zadis said, holding out his hand for me to look at the array of sparkling gemstone rings on it. “Which of my stones is your favorite? I’ll show you some magic with it.”

I blinked. “Seriously?” I’d never seen anything but shifter magic, which mostly involved shifting.

“Sure, come closer. Pull your cushion over here.”

I dragged it over by his and sat in it as he shoved his hand in front of my face again.

“What do you think?”

I looked at the rings on his hands, the sparkling beauty there, and noticed a huge red stone surrounded by little white ones. “That. That’s my favorite.”

He smiled, then closed his palm and held it tightly. When he opened it, a tiny red flame danced on his palm. “Ruby. Gives fae the power of fire.” He closed his palm, and when he opened it again, the fire had disappeared.

I smiled. “It’s beautiful too.”

“Stay here with me, and I’ll shower you with rubies,” he said, giving me a smile that almost anyone would have found charming.

However, I still did owe Sam that favor, no matter how angry I was with him right now.

“I’m afraid I can’t,” I said.

---